Bird-Brained

[Big Sky]

I bought the original '97 'Bird, a new holdover at the end of '98. I was shopping for a Honda ST. I think they listed at $11,500 I paid...$8,500? My wife and I used it with soft luggage as our ST for four years. I sold it then bought it back, then sold it to my nephew who after riding it for two or three years (gasp!) traded it for a Harley (ignorant youth!). Riding it home 650 miles I got a ticket on that bike that I could not talk may way out of. The XX is very sweet ride, smooth and fast, well suspended despite the lack of adjustability. It had a real sweet spot at about 95 mph where everything just seemed to be in perfect harmony. I put Heli bars on it, though, and a Corbin seat and taller windscreen. Any chance you can track down a set of the Corbin hard bags made for the 'Bird? I'll never forget a ride from Sturgis to Bismarck in early July, wife at pillion, big hills, straight road, NO traffic...cruised the whole thing at 95-105, 'Bird just loping along eating it up. Soloing I did once see 155 on the clock. You're gonna like that bike. I was recently eyeballing two of them that came up on CL here in Montana - a '98 and an '02, but no way to justify. They hold their value pretty well.

 

[bgross]

I bought the original '97 'Bird, a new holdover at the end of '98. I was shopping for a Honda ST. I think they listed at $11,500 I paid...$8,500? My wife and I used it with soft luggage as our ST for four years. I sold it then bought it back, then sold it to my nephew who after riding it for two or three years (gasp!) traded it for a Harley (ignorant youth!). Riding it home 650 miles I got a ticket on that bike that I could not talk may way out of. The XX is very sweet ride, smooth and fast, well suspended despite the lack of adjustability. It had a real sweet spot at about 95 mph where everything just seemed to be in perfect harmony. I put Heli bars on it, though, and a Corbin seat and taller windscreen. Any chance you can track down a set of the Corbin hard bags made for the 'Bird? I'll never forget a ride from Sturgis to Bismarck in early July, wife at pillion, big hills, straight road, NO traffic...cruised the whole thing at 95-105, 'Bird just loping along eating it up. Soloing I did once see 155 on the clock. You're gonna like that bike. I was recently eyeballing two of them that came up on CL here in Montana - a '98 and an '02, but no way to justify. They hold their value pretty well.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I am stunned to read so many stories of folks who used to have a Bird, loved it, sold it, and regretted it. The guy I bought Roxanne from was the original owner, has great memories of 2-up rides to Laguna Seca for 5 years - and hadn't put 100 miles on it in the last year. He has 6 year old boy and 2 year old twins now - no riding for a while.

I won't be looking for bags for her. She'll be a solo bike, like the FJR. My bride will only ride on the Wingabago (physical limitations) and even the FJR spends most of the time with "bags off" - except for those 1000 mile weekends.

 

[ktidrick]

I named mine "The Temptress"...

 

[Bugnatr]

There's a few roads in Nevada that you could pin and hold it for a bit. Have fun!!!!

 

[bgross]

Yeah... heh, heh.

I drove to PHX yesterday (in the van, ugh) yesterday and back today. Spent many miles imagining being out there on the 'bird, having done so on the other 'girls'.

Gonna have to save such fun for the Silver State!

 

[ndivita]

I had two of them. Phenomenal, rock solid bike. You won't regret it.

 

[Goodman4]

Ok, bgross... I am quite glad you convinced me that adding a Wing to the stable would make my wife very happy. Can you convince her that I should add a Blackbird? Sounds like a blast.

 

[exskibum]

I had two of them also - a carbureted '97 and a FI '03. Bulletproof smoooooth engine, but stock suspension is probably its weakest point. I had a Traxxion fork rebuild on the '03 plus a Penske. Fun bike, but the FJR stayed while the '03 replaced the '97, and stayed when the '03 departed to a friend's garage. Since you have a companion FJR, as I did for most of the time I owned Blackbirds, just Do it, and enjoy.

 

[bgross]

Ok, bgross... I am quite glad you convinced me that adding a Wing to the stable would make my wife very happy. Can you convince her that I should add a Blackbird? Sounds like a blast.

Sorry, I can't help with your wife.

What tipped my bride was... her sister. Barb went to AZ to visit her, just as her husband was picking up his third bike. Her sister said - "hey, we have great husbands - let them enjoy before it's too late and they regret it."

Next thing I know, Barb calls and says "go for it!" So I did.

Best of success on your end!